RHBA-2008:0764 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

An updated device-mapper-multipath package that fixes several bugs and adds
enhancements is now available.

Description

The device-mapper-multipath package provides tools to manage multipath
devices using the device-mapper multipath kernel module.

This updated package fixes the following bugs:

• multipathd crashed when Device-mapper Multipath was configured for 1024

or more paths, because it was unable to open a file descriptor for each
path. This left multipathd with a "multipathd dead but pid file exists"
status. As well, this may have caused "error calling out
/sbin/mpath_prio_ontap /dev/[device]" errors. In this updated package, a
new "/etc/multipath.conf" parameter, "max_fds", allows the maximum number
of file descriptors that the multipathd process can have open to be set.

• the autoconfiguration for HP StorageWorks arrays was not correct. In

this updated package, the correct configuration has been added.

• the "/usr/share/doc/device-mapper-multipath-[x]/Multipath-usage.txt"

documentation incorrectly stated that the output for each path followed
"[path_status][dm_status_if_known]". The correct order,
"[dm_status_if_known] [path_status]", has been added to the documentation.

• when using kpartx, multipath-partitioned devices may have been missing

a "p" delimeter before the partition number. Now, kpartx reads from the new
configuration file, "/etc/kpartx.conf". If this file exists, and contains
the "consistent_suffix=yes" option, kpartx uses the "p" delimeter. Note:
for upgrades, this option is set to "no", and to "yes" for fresh
installations.

• reloading a multipath device after its WWID changed, for example,

after changing LUN mapping, caused a segmentation fault.

• when a LUN was deleted on a configured storage system, the change was

not reflected on the host. This caused LVM commands to hang when
Device-mapper Multipath was used. To resolve this issue,
"/etc/multipath.conf" now accepts the "flush_on_last_del" parameter. If
"flush_on_last_del yes" is set, multipath devices automatically turn off
queuing when the last path is deleted. By default, "flush_on_last_del" is
set to "no". As well, queuing can be manually disabled and restored by
using the "multipath -k" interface.

• when booting a system that has multipath devices, such devices may not

have been fully initialized, causing no device node to be created, or
multipath to fail. Now, multipath waits up to five seconds for a device to
be fully initialized, which resolves this issue.

As well, this updated package adds the following enhancements:

• the "/etc/multipath.conf" file now accepts the "uid", "gid", and "mode"

parameters, that allows the UID, GID, and MODE for Device-mapper
Multipath device nodes to be set. Note: the "uid" and "gid" options
require the numeric user and group IDs. As well, these paremeters do not
effect the devices created by udev.

• a priority callout, "mpath_prio_hp_sw", to support HP StorageWorks arrays

that use HP Active/Standby, has been added. This allows multipath to
correctly configure the path groups for HP StorageWorks arrays.

Users of device-mapper-multipath are advised to upgrade to this updated
package, which resolves these issues and adds these enhancements.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_58_10188

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 4 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 425995 - segfault in dm_flush_map when wwid changes on storage
• BZ - 430494 - [NetApp-S 4.7 bug] LUN removal status is not updated on the host without a driver reload
• BZ - 436201 - Multipath doesn't wait for devices to be initialized on boot
• BZ - 438037 - [RFE] Include mpath_prio_hp_sw in device-mapper-multipath

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)